Summary of Contents for HighPoint RocketStor 6628T
Page 1
RocketStor 6628T User Manual Sep. 5, 2017 Revision 1.00 HighPoint Technologies, Inc.
Page 2
Backup your important data before using HighPoint's products and use at your own risk. In no event shall HighPoint be liable for any loss of profits, or for direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising from any defect or error in HighPoint's products or manuals.
Formatting the RAID Volumes ................... 17 Section 3: Setting up the software for Mac Platforms ..........20 Driver Installation ......................... 20 Section 4: Using the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager (HRM) ......24 How to Login to the HRM ....................24 Navigating the HRM ......................25 Overview Tab .........................
Page 4
Critical array becomes disabled when you removed faulty disk ....... 49 Help ............................50 Table 1. HRM Icon Guide ..................... 50 Table 2. RAID Level Reference Guide ................53 HighPoint Recommended List of Hard Drives ............... 54 Contacting Technical Support ................... 54...
Product Overview The RocketStor 6628T was designed for Professional Media Applications that demand consistent high speed transfers, flexibility and uncompromised reliability. The built-in full-featured SATA 6G RAID controller, management suite, and 8-hot swappable drive bays support both SATA hard drives or SSD’s, and can be easily configured to deliver maximum performance, capacity or data security.
Page 6
Configurable RAID Block Size up to 128K Flash ROM for Upgradeable Firmware Storage Health Inspector Redundant RAID Configurations Bootable RAID Array EFI BIOS for Mac Platform Multiple RAID Partitions supported Online Array Roaming Online RAID Level Migration (ORLM) Online Capacity Expansion (OCE) RAID Initialization Background/Foreground/Quick Advanced RAID Features Global Hot Spare Disk support...
Section 1: Hardware Installation Hardware Overview Panel Layout-Front View Disk Present & Active LED: Solid/Flash Blue - HDD Access Indicator Disk Status LED: Solid/Flash Red - Device Failure / Rebuilding Indicator Power LED: Solid Blue - Power on Indicator Panel Layout-Rear View System Requirements 1.
(switch to the “I” position to power on the RocketStor6628T). 3. RocketStor 6628T is designed to be powered on and powered off simultaneously with the host system, when the RocketStor 6628T is connected to the host system with the Thunderbolt™...
Drivers are updated regularly at www.highpoint-tech.com 1. Obtain the latest driver software for the RocketStor 6628T from our website: http://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-rs6628t-download.htm 2. Take note of the location you downloaded the driver file to and open Windows Device Manager.
Page 10
6. To the right of Devices and Printers, Click Device Manager: 7. Note: Alternatively, you can search for Device Manager in your start menu search bar. 8. Under Other Devices, right click on RAID controller and click Update Driver Software:...
Page 11
9. When prompted, select browse my computer for driver software. 10. Locate the driver files you downloaded and select them. 11. Press next and follow the on screen instructions.
Checking your Driver Version To check if the driver was installed successfully follow the instructions below. The same procedure can be used to determine your driver version. 1. Click Start 2. Click Control Panel 3. Click Hardware and Sound 4. To the right of Devices and Printers, Click Device Manager 5.
Updating the Drivers 1. Obtain the latest driver files for the RocketStor 6628T from http://highpoint- tech.com/USA_new/series-rs6628t-download.htm 2. Open Windows Device Manager 3. Click Start 4. Click Control Panel 5. Click Hardware and Sound 6. Under Devices and Printers, Click Device Manager 7.
Uninstalling the Drivers 1. Open Windows Device Manager Click Start Click Control Panel Click Hardware and sound Under Devices and Printers, Click Device Manager Note: Alternatively, you can search Device Manager in your start menu search bar.
Installing the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager The HighPoint RocketStor Manager (HRM) is the primary link between you and your RAID array. Using the management utilities and menus offered by the HRM, you would be able to access, create, and maintain your RAID arrays.
How to Login to the HRM You can reach the HRM log in page either by: Double clicking on the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager icon created on your desktop Opening your preferred web browser and typing http://localhost:7404 in the address bar.
Formatting the RAID Volumes After creating a RAID array, your operating system will recognize that array as a logical disk. However, the array will not be accessible until it is formatted by the operating system. Format the volume when you have finished the following procedures: ...
Page 18
4. Once initialized, right click the unallocated disk space for your disk 5. click New Simple Volume 6. Follow the instructions on screen to receive a drive letter...
Page 19
7. Once finished, the drive will appear in your OS with the letter you assigned Figure 3. Disk formatted as NTFS and assigned drive letter D:...
Your disk may initially appear offline to the operating system, and you may have to bring it online: 1. In Disk Management, right click the disk you wish to bring online. 2. The disk status will change to Not Initialized; right click the disk again to initialize it.
Page 21
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. 4. Reboot computer...
Page 22
5. Make sure Driver Installed is Yes Figure 4. Click Apple Icon > About this Mac... > System Report > PCI 6. Install the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager (HRM) software. 1) Download the HRM from HighPoint Website: http://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-rs6628t-download.htm 1) Extract the package and double Click the Installation program to start installing the HRM.
Page 23
7. Running the HRM 1) After installation is complete, a HRM icon will be displayed on the desktop. 2) Double-click this icon to open the HRM. Warning: Using the HRM to create RAID arrays will destroy all pre- existing data on the selected disks.
Section 4: Using the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager (HRM) How to Login to the HRM You can reach the HRM log in page either by: Double clicking on the HighPoint RocketStor RAID Manager icon created on your desktop Opening your preferred web browser and typing...
Navigating the HRM The HRM allows you to do several key things: Create and remove arrays Monitor disk health Update firmware and BIOS Change enclosure settings Troubleshoot faulty drives View general system overview Tab Name Function Over View View Enclosure and Storage Properties...
Overview Tab The GUI Global view provides an overview of what each HighPoint Enclosure connected to your computer detects. It is also the first page you see when logging in. Enclosure Properties Storage Properties On the top left of the page is a drop down menu that allows you to select which controller you want to manage (if you have multiple HighPoint controllers connected).
Page 27
1. Log into the HRM 2. Select the controller from drop down menu on the top left Click Overview Storage Properties Total: the combined capacity of each physical disk connected to the controller. Configured: the amount of space used for creating arrays ...
Advanced Config. 1. Log into the HRM 2. Click Advanced Config. The Advanced Config. tab is where you can edit, delete, and maintain your RAID configurations, as well as review the Physical Device information. The Advanced Config. tab has the following functions: ...
Page 29
An array is a collection of physical disks that will be seen as one virtual drive by your Operating System (OS). Array Type: JBOD – Just a Bunch of Disks RAID 0 - Striping RAID 1 - Mirroring ...
Page 30
RAID_<level>_<array number>) Initialization Method : Initialization of a disk sets all data bits to 0, essentially clearing all the data on the drive. It is important to initialize disks as previous data physically stored on the drive may interfere with new data. ...
having one tiny I/O request being handled by multiple disks. A block size of 64k is recommended because it strikes a balance between the two I/O usage scenarios. Capacity (Default: Maximum) The total amount of space you want the RAID array to take up. When creating RAID levels, disk capacities are limited by the smallest disk.
3. Check the box for the disk you want as a spare under Available Disks. 4. Click Add Spare, and confirm by selecting OK from the pop-up window: 5. The disk has now been assigned as a spare. Click OK to confirm: Disks added to the spare pool will be displayed under Spare Pool and can be removed by checking the box before the target drive, then clicking the Remove Spare button.
Page 33
Array Information Clicking on the maintenance button will show you the Array information box. Different array statuses (Normal, critical, disabled) will have different maintenance options.
Array Information &Maintenance Options: Normal Status Arrays with the Normal status are healthy and functioning properly. Arrays with the Normal status will have the following options: Delete – deletes the selected RAID array Unplug – powers off the selected RAID array – once powered off, the physical disks can be safely removed from the RAID controller Verify –...
Array Information & Maintenance Options: Critical Status Arrays in the Critical status can be accessed and utilized, but are no longer fault tolerant. A Critical array should be rebuilt as soon as possible to restore redundancy. A critical status array has all the normal status options except the following: ...
Array Information & Maintenance Options: Disabled Status An array with the Disabled status means that the RAID level does not have enough disks to function. Your data will be inaccessible Rebuilding will not trigger, since the RAID array does not have enough parity data to rebuild.
Expanding an Existing Array Important: It is recommended that the array be Verified/Rebuilt before Expanding or Migrating. Once you start an OCE/ORLM procedure, you can stop the process, but it must be resumed until completion. To add more capacity to your current configuration follows these steps: Click Advanced Config.
The Logical Device Information will change the status to migrating. Physical Device Information Location – which controller and port the drive is located in Model – model number of the drive connected Capacity – total capacity of the drive ...
Page 39
Rescan Clicking rescan will force the drivers to report the array status. For any disk(s) you hot plug into the device; do not click rescan until all physical drives are detected and appear under Logical Device Information. Beeper Mute The controller emits a beeping sound whenever: ...
Settings Tab Using this tab, you can change the following: Enclosure Email Notification Security System setting Enclosure: Review the enclosure information or update the BIOS/Firmware. Email Notification: Setting up the event notification via SMTP Email server. The following topics are covered under email: ...
Page 41
SMTP settings To set up email alerts: 1. Check the Enable Event Notification box. 2. Enter the ISP server address name or SMTP name 3. Type in the email address of the sender (email account that is going to send the alert) 4.
Page 42
The email will include the output recorded in the event log. Example email message: Figure 1. Example event log email Security: Setting the HRM’s log in password, remote log in availability and the port number. Restrict to localhost access (default: Enabled) Remote access to the controller will be restricted when enabled;...
Password Settings Changing your HRM password Under Password Setting, type your new password, confirm it, and then click Submit Recovering your HRM password If you wish to revert to the default password: hpt, delete the file hptuser.dat. For Mac Users: 1.
When the rebuild is finished, the data may be accessible but may also be inconsistent, due to any bad sectors that were ignored during the procedure. If this option is enabled, HighPoint recommends checking the event log periodically for bad sectors warnings.
Broken errors Memory failure SHI (Storage Health Inspector) S.M.A.R.T Attributes Storage Health Inspector Scheduling SHI outputs information collected using SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) Hard Drive Technology. The data provided on this tab helps you to anticipate any disk failures based on a variety of monitored hard disk properties.
How to Enable SMART Monitoring To access SMART attributes of an individual disk: 1. Log in to the HRM 2. Select the proper controller using the drop down menu on the top left 3. Click the SHI tab 4. Click Enable to enable SMART monitoring Disabling SMART monitoring You have the option the disable SMART monitoring on each individual disk.
How to Use the Scheduler The Scheduler enables you to schedule disk/array checkups to ensure disks/array are functioning optimally. How to Create a New Verify Task All arrays will appear under New Verify Task 1. Log into the HRM 2. Select the proper controller from the top left drop down 3.
Section 5: Troubleshooting This section provides guidelines to some problems you may encounter: Handling Critical Arrays Handling Disabled Arrays PC hangs when card is installed. Handling Critical Arrays When your disk status turns critical, your array as a whole is still accessible, but one or more disks are faulty (depending on your RAID level), and the array is in danger of failing.
Rebuilding Stops Due to Bad Sectors If rebuilding fails to complete due to bad disk sector errors (check in the Event Log), there is an option to continue rebuilding on error in the HighPoint HRM. 1. Log into the HRM 2.
Configuration Record: collect the RocketStor’s storage information and send it to the HighPoint support team. It is required to register the product on HighPoint Web Support Portal and request the support ID before submit the Configuration Record: Table 1. HRM Icon Guide Critical –...
Page 51
Uninitialized The array initialization process has been interrupted, and the process is incomplete. Not Initialized Disk is not initialized yet, and needs to be initialized before use OCE/ORLM Array is performing a OCE/ORLM operation OCE/ORLM has stopped The array expansion process has been stopped. Legacy An existing file system has been detected on the disk.
Page 52
‘verifying’. Disabled The array does not have enough disks to maintain the RAID level. A disabled array is not accessible. OCE/ORLM Array is expanding its capacity or migrating to a different raid level. Status will display ‘Expanding/Migrating’ OCE/ORLM stopped The ‘Expansion/Migrating’ process has been stopped. The status will display ‘Need Expanding/Migrating’...
Page 53
Table 2. RAID Level Reference Guide Type Description Min. Usable Advantage Disadvantage Application disks space Each drive can be No fault tolerance - failure Backup Just a bunch of JBOD 100% accessed as a single of one drive results in disk volume complete data loss...
HighPoint Recommended List of Hard Drives HighPoint maintains a list of tested hard drives suitable for RAID applications. Since not every hard drive in the market can be tested, this list is meant to be a general guideline for selecting hard drives operating in a RAID environment. Regular, desktop grade drives are highly not recommended for RAID use.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the RocketStor 6628T and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers